Epidural/spinal block

[Janbuck]

Hi, hope someone can help me. My husband is shortly to have a knee replacemant op and is considering an epidural but he's a little worried about it. Has anyone out there any experience of this? We would welcome your input/advice etc.

Janbuck

[LazyGun]

You might find this page useful Jan.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm? Thread_ID=321&topcategory=Joint%20Replacem ent

[mimififi]

me auntie had her varicose viens all done via epidural and said it was the best way to have it. She had thenm done under general many years ago. She said the recovery was amazing. She went in inthe morning, had them done at lunch time and was discharged the next morning. Fab.

Also, people have c-sections done under epi so they must be effective.

[JulieEve]

I had one for totally different op (c-section). It was administered into my spine which I can't remember being painful at all. I was also given a large dose sedative so I was almost out of it!

Being awake you can obviously feel yourself being pushed and pulled about and hear what's going on. But they normally put a screen up so that you can't see anything.

I found that as the effect was wearing off I got very cold and started to shake uncontrollably for about half an hour!

I would say don't be at all worried but then I don't know how long your hubby's op will last, which is another consideration.

Good luck to him what ever he chooses I hope it goes well.

[Janbuck]

LazyGun, mimififi, JulieEve, Thank you all so much for your advice, comments and good wishes. I will look on the site later LG.

What a wonderful site this is!

Regards Janbuck

[kazza12345]

thats a strange coincidence, i have been for my pre op clerking for a hip replacement today, and was talking to the surgeon about the same thing exactly. I think it will depend on the anaesthetist, as some do them more regularly for people who cant tolerate a general (ie older people with crappy chest problems) He said it was quite unusual for someone my age (32) to have a spinal, but they might consider it. I would want a spinal with sedation addedd, as i would not want to be aware of what was going on round me. I think i'll probably opt for a general, but i'm torn. The added bonus of a spinal anaesthetic is that they can then place an epidural catheter in, and use it for post operative pain relief

[dot.hawkes]

I had my first born with an epidural in 1984, I took the advice of the doctor at the time and yes it was okay, but 24 years later I still have a week spot at the base of my spine where the needle was inserted for the anaesthetic, but your knee op may mean the needle goes in elsewhere, my mate is having an op in 5 weeks on his knee i hope they offer him one as it will mean less time recovering.

[dot.hawkes]

The mental issues that I have are not due to the epidural by the way, which my first born just told me was in 1981 when he was born , not 1984, lol